RASC eNews

Ophiuchus – The Mystery Constellation

The world of astrology and those who follow its daily predictions were delt a crushing blow in the second week of 2011. Over night, the dates of the signs were revamped and a mysterious thirteenth house was added. People woke up to find out they were no long who they thought they were. For instance, if someone went to bed a Capricorn, they woke up as a Sagittarius, etc. Personally, it was about time these dates changed because of the 26,000 year wobble called precession. The Sun now appears in the constellation to the left from where your sign used to be. As for this mysterious pattern thrown into the mix – there is no mystery.

The national constitution committee is seeking dedicated, detail-oriented RASCals to help draft new Articles of Incorporation for the RASC, in time for the 2012 Edmonton GA and annual meeting. Join the Constitution Committee and shape RASC's Future! The new Canada Not for Profit Corporations Act (CNCA) will soon be declared law (expected in fall of 2011). This means we have no choice but to overhaul and restructure our governance documents.

Puff The Draco Dragon

The beauty about circumpolar constellations is that they never set below the horizon. From forty-five degrees north latitude, we can enjoy such familiar patterns as Ursae Majoris (Big Dipper), Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Camelopardalis, Draco and of course Ursae Minoris (Little Dipper) which sports the North Star. For the rest of the constellations, that depends how high or low in declination they reside. This month, we will take a look at the Draco the Dragon.

Canadian Astronomical Society

Helen Sawyer Hogg Public Lecture - 2011
The Search for a Sister Earth
Dimitar Sasselov, Harvard University

Tuesday, May 31 7:30 - 9 PM
Central Library, Wolf Performance Hall
251 Dundas Street, London ON